Automatic fluorescent tube changer



H. STElNlNGER ET AL LUORESCENT TUBE CHANGER Sept. 26, 1950 AUTOMATIC F 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 4, 1944 Sept. 26, 1950 H. STEININGER ET AL 2,524,002

AUTOMATIC FLUORESCENT TUBE CHANGER Filed Aug. 4, 1944 4 She ets-Sheet 2 Ill/Il flu/61415721 Mr/vfss.

Sept. 26, 1950 H. STEININGER ET AL AUTOMATIC FLUORESCENT TUBE CHANGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 4, 1944 u m f 8 a .Q, Fill w 0 1 m m a W 0 Z Sept. 26, 1950 H. STEININGER ET AL 2,524,002

AUTOMATIC FLUORESCENT TUBE CHANGER Filed Aug. 4, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 26, 1950 AUTOMATIC FLUORESCENT TUBE CHANG Hugh Steininger and Emmett Shippy, South Bend, Ind.

Application August 4, 1944, Serial N 0. 548,029

14 Claims.

This invention relates to an automatic device for removing and inserting fluorescent lighting tubes in any open-faced type fluorescent fixture suspended over head.

The object of this device is to grasp and hold a fluorescent tube securely and to revolve same in its socket adequately to permit its removal or insertion and to be applicable to all sizes of tubes and to revolve and remove or insert these tubes by rotative movement transverse to their axes from any position from vertical to horizontal.

The features and objects of this device are apparent as illustrated in the accompanying draw- 1ngs.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the changer. '.'Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the changer. 'Fig. 3 is an end elevational view with solid lines showing the changer holding a tube in the starting position for removal, and broken lines .showing same after it has been rotated.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view similar to Fig. '3, with solid lines showing the clampin jaws open, and also shows by broken lines the changer in position to be removed from the tube after it has been rotated for insertion.

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the entire adjustin block removed from the changer.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the adjusting block.

.Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the adjusting block.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a jaw lining bar partly broken away andremoved from the changer.

Fig. 9 is an end view of the same bar of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a rear view of the same bar of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is an end view of one half of the automatic trigger taken substantially on line B-B, Fig. 12, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 12 is a side view of the same half of the trigger shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of the entire trigger removed from the changer and shown in the cooked position.

Fig. 14 is an end sectional view of the trigger taken substantially on'line A-A, Fig. 13, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 15 is a side elevational view of the entire trigger shown in the tripped position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The entire changer is mounted on the end of a reach pole 36, Fig. 2, of necessary length to 2 head, and is secured to the pole 36 by screwing the female threaded collar 4 of the changer to the male threaded connector 35 on the pole 36. The top end of the pole connector 35 extends into the sleeve 3 of the changer to secure a positive non-friction connection.

The chassis is formed of a horizontal supporting bar I having a downwardly extending sleeve formed integral therewith. The sleeve is provided with an internal socket which receives the end 34 of the pole 36. The sleeve terminates in an enlarged internally threaded collar 4.

The bar I has removably secured to each end thereof a bell member 2 which is provided with a socket to receive the ends of the spring receptacle ID. Intermediate the ends of the bar, in alinement with the sleeve 3, is secured an adjusting block 40 which supports the axle or shaft 6 and limits the swinging movement of the clamping laws 1. The shaft 6 extends into the sockets in the end bells. Also extending into these sockets are springs Illa which encircle the ends of the shaft. The springs are housed within the spring receptacle l0.

The entire carriage, as hereinafter referred to, includes the jaws 1 and their component parts that carry the tube in its rotation, is automatically returned from the broken line position to the solid line or starting position by the action of the carriage return springs Na and Iila, Figs. 3 and 4. This action is attained from the pressure exerted by the live ends of springs Illa. and la shown at lDb against carriage side 22, Fig. 3. Part Nib is secured to the carriage at 3|. The dead ends of springs la and 10b are securely anchored at [9c in end bells 2 and 2, Fig. 2.

The numerals 22 and 24, Figs. 1 and 4, apply to separate sides of the clamping jaws I which function separately as the changer is being removed from the tube. Numeral 24 is referred to as the stationary side, while 22 is the 'moveable side. 22a. refers to a separate function of the moveable side 22. While holding the side 24 stationary, the moveable side 22 can be opened by the hand for the purpose of inserting a tube in the the changer, or automatically by an upward pressure of the changer against the tube in a fixture for the purpose of removing the changer from the tube, as heretofore referred to in the description of Fig. 4.

The clamping jaws l are connected by the jaw lining bars 8, and fastened substantially together as shown at 9, Figs. 1 and 2. Bars 8 are perferreach a fluorescent light fixture suspended over ably covered by rubber to of suflicient qualities r 3 that upon contact with a fluorescent tube will hold it securely until jaws 1 are released.

The clamping jaws 1 are automatically closed by springs H and H, Fig. 1, when the automatic trigger is tripped. Springs II and H encircle the shaft and are secured to the opposite jaws at 32, Fig. 2.

When the clamping jaws l are opened, the automatic toggle type trigger 20 is moved to the over center cocked position which is maintained against the trigger stops 2011., Fig. 11, by a helper spring 15, therefore holding the jaws I open.

Numeral 16a, in Fig. 4, indicates the cocked position of the automatic trigger 20 when jaws 1 are open, and [6b, in Fig. 3, indicates the tripped position when jaws I are released.

Pins 18, Washers 29 and fastenings l9, Fig. 1, such as cotter pins, secure the trigger 20 to the jaws 24 and 22 at points shown at 2i and 28 respectively. Point 21, Figs. 1 and 3, is substantially a part of the carriage rocker arm l2 shown clearly in Fig. 3, and point 28, Figs. 1 or 3, is substantially a part of the bracket i4 shown clearly in Fig. 3.

The trigger roller bumpers l6 and [6 Fig. l, are mounted on pivot pin ll which connects the links of the toggle trigger and they assure a positive contact with a tube, regardless of what angle it may strike the trigger.

A spacer 2| is inserted between one of the rollers it and the trigger 20 to equalize the spacing of the rollers 16 and I6, Fig. l.

The numeral 20b, Fig. 14, designates ball bearings in the rollers 16 and It.

The adjusting block '40 consists of an upper part 23 and a lower part 38, Fig; '5, which serve as an intermediate support and bearing for the main axle 6. Parts 23 and'38 are secured as shown at 25, Fig. 5. Mounted on both sides of the adjustingblock 40 are the carriage stop bars and 38 which are secured to the block 4!] as shown at 2'6. Thebars 3'0 and 36 when lowered to the extr'em'e, will extend into the chassis bar 1 and provision for this extension is shown by the kerf at 361), Fig. '2.

Special mention is made here to clarify the ability of the adjusting block 49 to control the chord of the tube carriage. Certain types of tube sockets on the market require different chords of tube rotation for insertion into or removal from their sockets. Therefore a means to accommodate this fact has been incorporated into the design of the adjusting block 40.

The carriage in the starting position shown by the solid lines, Fig. 3, rests at point 33 against the stop bar 3!). By pulling on the cord '39 attached to the carriage rocker arm 12, thecarriage will be rotated the required number of degrees and then come to rest at a similar point against the stop bar 30 of the opposite side, shown by broken 'lines,Fig. 3. By -loosening the fastenings 26, Fig. 7, the stop bars as and 30 are adjustable to control the chord of the carriage from Zero to a maximum of approximately 120 degrees.

Numeral l2a, Fig. 3, indicates a swivel connection of the pull cord 39 to the carriage'rocker arm 12.

The operation and method of use of the device is as follows: Assuming that a fluorescent tube mounted in a conventional socket is to hereplaced, the device, with the jaws open,'is applied around the tube as shown in full lines in Fig. with the rollers l6 engaging the tube. The device is then pressed against the tube, with the point of pressure application occurring at said Fig. 15, incident to the closing of the jaws.

Thereupon, the cord 39 is pulled downwardly,

thereby tilting the jaw assembly to the dotted line position in Fig. 3 against the action of the springs 1a which normally hold the jaws in the tilted position shown in full lines in Fig. 3. Assuming that the stop bars 30 have been properly adjusted on block to accommodate swinging movement of the jaws through an arc of .the same angular displacement as that existing between the locked and release position of the tube fixture or socket, the swinging of the jaws, upon pulling the cord39 as described above, will rotate the tube in the fixture to its release position. Therefore, by proper bodily manipulation of the device while in this tilted tube-releasing position, the tube may .be withdrawn from its socket. Removal of the'tube from .the device is accomplished by'manual'ly spreading the jaws.

The application of a replacement tube in the tube socket is accomplished by the reverse operation, following proper application of the tube in the device so that it can be inserted intoth'e tube socket while the jaws are in their normal spring pressed position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 3. A pull upon cord 39 in this instance rotates the tube in its socket to operative locked position. The device is then released by applying an upward pressure in a direction substantially parallel to the handle 36 while holding the cord 39 taut. It will be observed from the dotted line position of the parts in Fig. 3 that such upward pressure tends to tilt the jaw "22 downwardly,

, while the engagement of arm l2 with stop 30 prevents the jaw 24, to which arm i2 is secured, from following the movement of the jaw '22. In other words, the upward pressure of the device against the tube, held fast in its socket, serves to .open

the jaw 22 against the action of the springs H. This opening movement of the jaws permits the spring it: to throw the toggle trigger 20 to its cocked'position to lock the jaws "in their open relation. The final, fully open position of the .jaws and their relation to the tube is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and it will be observed therefrom that upon proper application of upward pressure, the tube does-not interfere with movement of the toggle trigger '20 and the rollers center extended position ,for holding said jaws open. 2. A device for inserting and removing fluorescent tubes, comprising a carrier, spring pressed grippingjaws pivotally mounted on said carrier, means on said carrier for limiting pivotal movement of said jaws between two angularly disposed extremes, means normally urging said jaws to one of said extremes, means for swinging said jaws to the other extreme, and a toggle between said jaws having a folded position and an over-center extended position for holding said jaws open, and spring means for urging said toggle'toward extended position.

3. A device for inserting and removing fluorescent tubes, comprising a carrier, spring pressed jaws pivoted on said carrier and adapted to swing between angularly displaced tube-inserting and tube-locking positions, meansnormally urging said jaws to one of said positions, means for swinging said jaws to the other position, and collapsible trigger mechanism between said jaws having a spring urged jaw-spreading position and a retracted position.

4; A device for inserting and removing fluorescent tubes, comprising a carrier, spring pressed jaws pivotedon said carrier and adapted to swing between angularly displaced tube-inserting and tube-locking positions, means normally urging said jaws to one of said positions, means for swinging said jaws to'the other position, and collapsible-trigger mechanism between said jaws having a spring urged jaw-spreading position and a retracted position, and adjustable stops on said carrier and engageable by said jaws to define said tube-inserting and lube-locking positions.

5. A device for inserting and removing fiuorescent tubes, comprising a carrier, spring pressed jaws pivoted on said carrier for movement between a spring pressed normal position and an angularly displaced position, means for shifting said jaws to said last named position, and spring pressed jaw-spreading means positioned between said jaws and having an extended position for engagement of a tube therewith and a released position spaced from a tube gripped by said jaws.

6. A device for inserting and removing fluorescent tubes, comprising a carrier, spring pressed jaws pivoted on said carrier for movement between a spring pressed normal position and an angularly displaced position, means for shifting said jaws to said last named position, and a spring pressed toggle between said jaws having a jaw-spreading position for engagement of a tube therewith and a released position spaced from a tube gripped by said jaws.

7. A device for inserting and removing fluorescent tubes, comprising a carrier, spring pressed jaws pivoted on said carrier for movement between a spring pressed normal position and an angularly displaced position, means for shifting said jaws to said last named position, and a spring pressed toggle pivoted at its ends to said jaws in outwardly spaced relation to the pivot of said jaws and having stops for limiting spring urged jaw-spreading movement thereof to an overcenter extended position.

8. A device for inserting and removing fluorescent tubes, comprising a carrier including a yoke and a shaft, a pair of gripping jaws pivoted on said shaft, spring means urging said jaws to tube-gripping position, means for limiting pivotal movement of said jaws relative to said carrier, spring means normally urging said jaws to one of said pivot limits, means for swinging said jaws to the opposite pivot limit, and spring pressed releasable jaw-spreading means positioned ga s-do 6 within the confines of said jaws'and engagable by a tube when said jaws are spread apart.

9. A device for inserting and removing fluoescent tubes, comprising a carrier including a transverse shaft, a pair of tube-gripping jaws pivoted on said shaft, spring means urging said jaws to tube-gripping position, spring pressed releasable jaw-spreading means, stop means for limiting pivotal movement of one of said'jaws in one direction, spring means normally urging said last named jaw in said direction, an arm carried by said last named jaw and-projecting laterally beneath the other jaw, a draft member connected to said arm, and stop means engageable by said arm for limiting pivotal movement of said jaws in the opposite direction.

10.'A device for inserting and removing fluorescent tubes, comprising a carrier including a transverse shaft, a pair of tube-gripping jaws pivoted on said shaft, spring means urging said jaws to tube-gripping position, spring pressed releasable jaw-spreading means, stop means for limiting pivotal movement of one of said jaws in one direction, spring means normally urging said last named jaw in said direction, an arm carried by said last named jaw and projecting laterally in spaced relation below and clear of said other jaw, a draft member connected to said arm, and stop means engageable by said arm to limit pivotal movement of said jaws in the opposite direction as a unit, the jaw adjacent said stop means being pivotable in tube-releasing relation to the arm-mounting jaw while said arm engages said stop means.

11. A device for inserting and removing fluorescent tubes, comprising a carrier including a transverse shaft, a pair of tube-gripping jaws pivoted on said shaft, spring means urging said jaws to tube-gripping position, spring pressed releasable jaw-spreading means, stop means for limiting pivotal movement of one of said jaws in one direction, spring means normally urging said last named jaw in said direction, an arm carried by said last named jaw and projecting laterally beneath the other jaw, a draft member connected to said arm, and stop means engageable'by said arm for limiting pivotal movement of said jaws in the opposite direction, and means for adjusting said stop means to vary the limits of pivotal movement of said jaws.

12. A device for inserting and removing fluorescent tubes, comprising a carrier, a jaw member pivoted to said carrier between predetermined angularly displaced limits, resilient means normally urging said jaw to one limit position, means for swinging said jaw to the opposite limit position and a second jaw pivoted on said carrier and spring pressed toward said first jaw, and a toggle trigger between said jaws and having a jaw spreading position and an inoperative position.

13. A device for installing and removing lamp tubes comprising a pole, a bar secured intermediate its ends to the upper end of the pole and extending laterally from opposite sides of the pole, a jaw having arms at its opposite ends pivoted to the opposite ends of said bar, a second jaw having arms at its opposite ends pivoted to the opposite ends of said bar, elongated strips extending between and secured to the arms of each of said jaws, and springs connected between the jaws for yieldingly maintaining said jaws in closed position and operable yieldingly to permit said jaws to be separated to position frictionally embracing the tube, said jaws when in position frictionall-y embracing the tube being adapted to be swung in unison about said pivots to turn the tube by shifting the adjacent end of the pole laterally.

14. A device for installing and removing lamp tubes comprising a pole, a jaw supporting member fixed intermediate its ends at the upper end of said pole and having its lengthwise axis ex tending substantially at right angles to and intersecting the lengthwise axis of said pole, a first jaw means having arms at its opposite ends pivoted on a fixed axis extendi-ngvlengthwise of said jaw supporting member at either side of the connection of the latter with said pole, a second jaw means having arms at its opposite ends pivoted on said fixed axis adjacent the pivotal connection thereon of said first jaw means whereby said first'and second jaw means are movable relative to each other and in unison about said fixed axis, and spring means connected between said jaw means for yieldingly maintaining said jaw means biased toward each :other in closed position and operable yieldingly to permit movement of the. opposite ends of said jaw means relative to each other by engagement thereof with a lamp tube to selectively frictionally embrace the latter by swinging said pole in a plane substantially parallel with the lengthwise axis of said tube, said jaw means when in p051:- tion frictionally embracing the tube being adapted to be swung in unison about the pivotal mountings thereof to turn the tube about its longitudinal axis by shifting the adjacent end of the pole laterally.

HUGH STEININGER. EMMETT SHIPPY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,452,679 Fisher Apr. 24, 1923 2,191,593 Sosnik Feb. 27, 1940 2,349,988 Quick May 30, 1944 2360,396 Carney Oct. 1'7, 1944 2,360,657 Diver Oct. 17, 1944 2,367,003 Carson Jan. 9, 1945 

